Abel de Guzman of Provincial Disaster Risk
Reduction Management office representing Gov. Johnny Pimentel handed-over on
Monday the check worth P200,000 each to the three identified municipalities in
Eastern Visayas.

According to de Guzman, Mayor Pelagio Tecson Jr.
of Tanauan, Leyte received the cash assistance. "He personally talked to
Gov. Pimentel via cellphone to extend his gratitude in behalf of the
Tanauanons," said de Guzman.

Mayor Igmedeo Junji Ponferrada in behalf of the
municipality of Basey, Western Samar and Vice Mayor Rogelio Cablao of Guiuan,
Eastern Samar also received the cash assistance.

In a related development, the the city govt of
Bislig, NGO's, businessmen and generous individuals all in Bislig City pulled
their resources to raise funds for the Yolanda victims in Region 8. The team
was led by Mayor Librado Navarro with the medical team who recently conducted
medical mission in the municipality of Villaba, Leyte. Along with them were
3,000 food packs, assorted clothing and medicines.

The PDRRMO bared that the municipality of
Carrascal, Hinatuan and Lianga all of this province have already extended
assistance to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Eastern Visayas.
(NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

PNP identifies suspects in killing Surigao Sur
journalist

By Nida Grace P. Barcena

SURIGAO DEL SUR, Dec. 11 (PIA) - Authorities
have already identified the alleged perpetrators who shot to death a radio
broadcaster at Barangay Mabua, Tandag City last December 6.

According to SPO1 Ranilo Malong, Surigao del Sur
Police Provincial Office Information Officer, their names can't be divulged yet
to the public to ensure their arrest.

“The murder case docketed under
NPS-XIII-07-INV-13L-00275 against the four primary suspects was already filed
at the Provincial Prosecutors Office in Tandag City yesterday,” Malong said.

It can be recalled that Michael D. Melo a.k.a.
Mike Milo, National Supervisor of Prime FM in Tandag City was shot at close
range on his left ear by the three unidentified men who were riding in tandem
in Brgy. Mabua, Tandag City last Friday, and no fired cartridge was found in
the crime scene.

Malong added that marital problem is seen as one
of the motives behind the killing and not related to his work.

Earlier, Malacanang condemned the killing of
Melo saying a police task force was already created to hunt down the
perpetrators. (NGBT/PIA-Surigao del Sur)

One month after end of program, C4TP yields 48%
employment rate in Caraga Region

By Robert E. Roperos

BUTUAN CITY, Dec. 11 (PIA) – A month after the
program ended in October 2013, the Cash for Training Program (C4TP) has
recorded 48% of employment rate out of the total beneficiaries in Caraga
Region.

C4TP is a joint undertaking of the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Technical Education and Skills
Development Authority (TESDA).

TESDA-Caraga Regional Director Dr. Florencio F.
Sunico, Jr. said this is a welcome development for the government agencies that
have converged for the realization of the program considering that the program
has just ended its implementation last October 31, 2013.

According to Dir. Sunico, aside from DSWD and
TESDA, local government units of the different provinces, cities, and
municipalities in the region have also supported the program implementation.

Out of 3,286 total beneficiaries enrolled this
year, 1,604 were already employed which is equal to 48%. Of this figure,
self-employment has yielded 1,547 (96%) while wage employment got 57 (4%).

Under the wage employment, total number enrolled
is pegged at 1,299 and out of this figure, 1,286 have graduated, equivalent to
98.99%. With this figure, 1,630 were assessed where 1,408 (86.38%) of it were
certified.

In the self employment component, a total of 1,987
were enrolled and 1,926 (96.93%) have graduated while out of 2,499, only 1,922
(76.91%) were certified.

Meanwhile, Emma De Villa, TESDA-Caraga Finance
and Administrative Services Division (FASD) Chief and C4TP focal person
explained there are some C4TP beneficiaries who were enrolled in bundled
courses like Automotive Servicing and Driving, Food and Beverage Service (FBS)
and Bartending, Carpentry and Electrical Installation and Maintenance (EIM),
EIM and Masonry, Commercial Cooking and Baking/Pastry Production, Wellness
Massage and Perform Manicure/Pedicure, among others.

“This is the reason why the figure indicated
under assessed is more than the number of beneficiaries enrolled,” De Villa
said.

With these developments, Dir. Sunico is
optimistic that the program’s employment rate increases as time goes on. “This
is already a good development for us because at present, nearly 50% of our
total beneficiaries have find employment – may it be wage- or self-employment…
and I am optimistic that more C4TP graduates can find employment before the end
of this year or early next year,” he said.

The C4TP is one of the flagship programs of the
Aquino administration which is entrusted to TESDA Sec. Joel Villanueva and DSWD
Sec. Corazon “Dinky” Soliman that was implemented early this year as a means of
poverty alleviation. Because of its successful implementation in Caraga, local
chief executives are hoping that another batch of beneficiaries will be the
given the opportunity to avail the program next year. (TESDA-13/PIA-Caraga)